Only two months after city councillors recommitted to its water fluoridation plan, a petition is being launched to end the practice.

Cornwall’s council members revisited the controversial practice during meetings earlier this year, but were convinced by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s Dr. Paul Roumeliotis that fluoridation’s benefits far outweigh any risks.

The discussions were sparked by a presentation from Fluoride Free Cornwall last fall, which suggested the additive was too expensive and ineffective.

But the group isn’t prepared to accept council’s recent decision.

Liz Leduc announced this weekend that she will be outside city hall prior to the Monday night meeting to collect signatures on a new petition.

“We’re not going to stop until this gets done,” she said.

Leduc said a dozen people have already begun canvassing for support, and she’s expecting more than 1,000 to sign on to the cause.

“It’s pretty widespread,” she said.

Fluoride Free Cornwall has also made the petition available on its Facebook, which has a membership beyond 700 people.

Leduc said they’ve posted plenty of education materials as well to back up their opposition.

“Some people have never heard of it and some people have a lot of questions,” she said.

“Fluoride is detrimental to all humans but especially the age group of zero to five years old as it lowers IQ,” wrote one supporter online, while another suggested a class action lawsuit against the city for “forceful medication.”

The group’s petition claims fluoridation is a form of mass medication that contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Fluoride Free Cornwall is asking the city to end this unethical practice,” said Leduc.

She said the petition will be formally submitted to city hall in the coming weeks.

“We’ll see what momentum we have,” she said. “But hopefully soon.”

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